You're on the air....

Have you ever called in on a radio station?  I used to a long time ago for music requests, etc. but the lines were always busy.  I haven't called a station lately, until just recently.  As I mention I listen to NJ 101.5 on the commute home from work.  On Friday's, on my way to pick up my mom to bring her back to our house on the weekends, the Jersey Guys do a music contest during the 6 o'clock hour.  The last few weeks they have been drawing from Casey's iPod, and sadly, we have similar music tastes.   I was thinking the last few weeks, let me try to call in and see if I can win some loot.  Two weeks ago I tried endlessly calling but constantly getting a busy signal (I don't remember what they were giving away, but that could have been the reason).  Sometimes they give concert tickets, other times giftcards.  This past week they were giving away "dinner and a movie".  It was tickets for the NJ opening of "The Soprano State"; a documentary on the state's corruption from the "third" Jersey Guy, Bob Ingle.  Also a $25 gift card to Sonic Drivein.  I diligently called over and over again until I got the ringing sound on the other end of the phone.  I wasn't sure what to say when they picked up.  But on the other end was NJ101.5.  I was like "This is KIM from ******!!!!!"  I think I was so excited to get through.  I had my radio down which I knew to do since if you have the radio on in the background it messes with the call.  They asked me my age and put me on hold.  There was a lot of talking going on.  I wasn't sure if they were talking to me, or if it was just background noise.  It seems like they were practicing playing songs for me to guess, but i couldn't hear very well at all.  It was all very muffled.  I was getting nervous because what if it sounded like that if I got on air and I couldn't hear.  I would make a total a** of myself on radio.  All I could hear was don't let them give you a hard time.   Then all of a sudden what is on the radio is what I am listening to on the phone.  Which was a relief because I was wondering, if I can't listen to the radio, how the heck will I know what is going on!?

All of a sudden they come back from commercial and say lets go to Kim in ******.  I was like oh gosh, don't screw up.  After they asked me if I was ready to play, they played the song....it was an 80's song, and I have really gotten rusty when it comes to 80's music.  After hearing the first part of the song, they asked me if I knew it...and I heard it but I couldn't place it.  Then I was like something ecstasy???? (then I realize did I just say ecstasy on the radio???) and Casey was like no, but I like where you are going with this.....Casey is pretty much a jerk on the radio and I was a little intimidated as he pretty much ridicules anyone who calls.  He really coached me on trying to get the answer.  He was like what do you sometimes do when you sleep???? I said "DREAM!!" and he is like yes, lets go with that......and then what sometimes happens to those dreams....and well that didn't help me.  Then he is like, "ok, what happens if I were to throw something and it broke" and I was like SHATTERED!! SHATTERED DREAMS! and yes I finally got it!!! :)  Casey said he worked awfully hard for me to win.  But I did (I think the reason was they needed winners cause they want as many people as possible to this opening).  After they put me on with the prize people on the station where I gave my info and was told all the details about showing up for the movie that is today!

What sucks is that where I work, there are three people in my immediate department.  One of them has already called out being out this afternoon.  Which leaves two, and our department manager disapproves leaving only one person in the office (even though all three of us do different things).  And there were PLENTY of times when I first started when I was left by myself.  So suffice it to say, I am not sure when I will get to the movie tonight, as I would have liked to gotten there a lot earlier as they will be broadcasting their show at the theater from 2-7 before the movie premiere.  I would definitely think that would be fun, but of course this place hangs it's ugly cloud on me trying to do something fun and spontaneous.  I will give a review of the movie and happenings if I am able to get out of here on time.

In all honesty....

I saw this list on another blog and enjoyed the questions and thinking about things I haven't thought about in a while.

1. Do you like sports or do you want to murder-train them? Which sports are your favorite, if you do like them?

The only sport I really enjoy is baseball. I can't understand football for the life of me.  Yes, I understand the general concept, but the fouls and the downs, and all that other lingo goes right over my head.  Baseball is the only sport I can enjoy watching live or on tv.  However I was just thinking how I don't follow it as much as I used to.  When I was younger I would tape games, I would cut out articles and make scrapbooks, rearrange my schedule to be able to watch games.  Now, not so much.  I still follow but I guess I am no longer that die hard fan I used to be.  My absolute favorite sports team is the New York Yankees.  I have liked them as long as I can remember, back when in the 80's they were definitely not the best team in baseball like they are now.  My grandfather was a big time fan and I think I followed in his footsteps.  He took me to my very first game at Yankee Stadium.

2. Which is better, chocolate or vanilla?

 This is very hard to say because I love the taste of chocolate but the smell of vanilla. 

 
3. What was your favorite vacation you've ever taken?

Hmmm...I haven't taken very many vacations.  And I would hate to single one out as they all have their special moments and memories.  When I was younger my grandparents, my mom and I would go down the shore for a week every summer.  I will never forget those times.  Jeff and I have taken several vacations from Mexico, to a cruise to the southern carribean and the Bahamas.  They are all very memorable and hopefully will have more to come! 

4. If you could go the rest of your life without hearing about ONE celebrity or public figure, like if that person ceased to exist, which person would it be?

This too is hard as there are many on this list I could mention....Octomom, Snookie, Kate Gosselin (and Jon too), Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton....surprisingly as I write all of these down, they have been out of the news as of late...lets hope it stays that way.

5. Do you enjoy TV watching, and if so, what's your all time favorite show?

I DO enjoy watching TV....a little too much.  There are a lot of shows but my all time favorite show would have to be.......Felicity.  This brings me back to when I was in college, a lot less complicated time in my life.  I felt very much in sync with Felicity (except I wasn't going to NYU and pursing medicine...).  But a lot of trials and tribulations she was going through I could definitely relate to.  I would love to see this show aired somewhere on tv.  It was on WE for a while.  This would be a great show to air on SoapNET.  

6. What's your favorite kind of music?

I would have to says nineties alternative rock.  I still love to listen to Oasis, Collective Soul, and my all time favorite, Everclear (you can see lyrics to one of their songs on the right side of my blog).  I have seen all of them in concert number of times.  

7. Who was your first celebrity crush?

HAHA, I am almost too embarrassed to say...but to play fair to the rules of the game I will oblige to say.  Davy Jones of The Monkees.  I was young and Nickelodeon was my favorite channel, and they aired old (at the time I didn't realize how old) episodes of The Monkees.  I have seen every episode, I have even seen them in concert.  Jeff learned of my crush early on in our relationship and got me a lunchbox and the entire cd collection of The Monkees.  Oh and i forgot, I even have his autobiography.  I got that one Easter when I was probably 8 years old, and now realizing I was probably way too young for the content in it :)

8. Tell me about your favorite outfit.

Eh, this answer won't be too exciting.  My favorite outfit consists of jeans and a comfy shirt.  I am not a sneakers kind of girl so usually flats or shoes with a little heel.  I feel I always have to be a little dressy or otherwise I look frumpy :(

9. Kittens or puppies?

If you know me you definitely should know the answer.....kitties! but I like doggies too.  I love all animals and wish I could do more for them.  I donate to animal charities when possible.  Here is a picture of my kitty Biscuit:

I would like to know what your answers would be to these questions!

Wishlist

Great song from Pearl Jam.  One that just popped into my head thinking of a blog topic.  I am not going to list a bunch of wishes, but I will focus on one...wishing that I was happy in what I do.  I know there are others who can relate to me.  I am envious of those who cannot.  I really should have known better that working in the physics department at an ivy league school would not be for me.  I feel so isolated.  There are staff that work there too, and some of them are very nice, but there are others who I feel like hold this big giant wall up.  It has felt very unwelcoming.  I like a work environment that has a culture of being a "team".  Here it is very much like if it doesn't fall under their realm they won't even deal with it.  I try to help as much as I can with what little I know even if it doesn't have to do with grad students.  I am tired of the if it doesn't pertain to me don't bother me aura that is oozing from here.  One of my previous jobs, whenever it was someones birthday we would go out for lunch.  If someone was getting married or having a baby, we would have a shower.  Or someone or myself would bake goodies and bring them into the office just because.  You didn't feel like you were a nuisance if you asked someone a question.  It was welcomed to come over and have a brief conversation to make the work day feel less like work.  I enjoy that open door feeling, and I do not get that here at all.   I am not looking to socialize, I know that is not what work is about.  But being friendly and having a friendly culture makes those 8 hours a day just a little more pleasant.

The other day I saw a job posting at a university close by that is KNOWN for its student centered focus.  I have always been drawn to this university.  I didn't know about it when looking for colleges for undergrad, but had I known about it I definitely would have considered it.  It is somewhat similar to my alma mater and being I don't think I would want to work at my alma mater and taint my experience working where I went to school, I would think this is the next best thing.  The position was for Assistant Director for Graduate Admission.  I was like YES!  It is a sign!  So I took my time to create a new cover letter instead of just changing a few words here and there of my current one.  I wanted to take the time on this as I thought this could be it.  I applied for it on Friday morning.  Later that day I wanted to check out the description one more time.  Well it seems they changed it to Transfer Admissions...which is fine, I wouldn't mind pursuing that either, but my cover letter was geared towards graduate admissions!  I emailed the director of graduate admissions to clarify the change I saw in the job description.  She in fact said yes there was an error and the job description had been changed.  I emailed her back saying I would still like to be considered for the Transfer position as I enjoy all aspects of admissions.  However once you apply for a position you cannot edit your application.  I asked if I could send her a new cover letter expressing my interest in the transfer position and she didn't write back this time.  Jeff says it was Friday afternoon don't look too much into it, but I do.  I miss the element of admissions. And for a minute I thought I would have an opportunity, but I have a feeling my app won't even be considered now.....here is wishing that I have the opportunity that I will be eventually happy with what I do....

Birthday Schmirthday

I guess I have gotten to that point in my life where birthdays don't really seem to matter.  Remember the days you would get so excited when it was getting close to your birthday, excited to receive the cards in the mail, the happy birthday wishes.  When does that fade away? and why?  It should be exciting but I view it as any other day anymore.  Jeff keeps asking me what I want and what I want to do for my birthday.  Maybe because it is on a Sunday this year (I don't particularly like Sunday's) but I just don't know what I feel like doing.  If I didn't have to go to work the next day, well that would be a different story I guess.  If you have any ideas, I am open to hearing them.  Otherwise it will be just like every other Sunday for me.